Foldable doors or partitions



Oct. 31, 1961 H. M. PEMBERTON FOLDABLE DOORS OR PARTITIONS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ll II II.

Filed March 26, 1959 Oct. 31, 1961 Filed March 26, 1959 H. M. PEMBERTONFOLDABLE DOORS OR PARTITIONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i? i! 10 l l {I I I unitcd States Patent ice 3,006,409 FOLDABLE DOORS OR PABTIHGNS Hector M.Pemherton, Vermont, Victoria, Australia, as-

signor to Biitwell Accessories Proprietary Limited,

North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, a company of Victoria Filed Mar.26, 1959, Ser. N 802,083 Claims priority, application Australia Apr. 2,1958 8 Claims. (Cl. 160-34) This invention relates to foldable closuresor partitions for doorway openings and the like, especially closures orpartitions of the kind having an articulated framework comprising upperand lower lazy tongs structures, with or without intermediate structuresof that type, connected together by pivot rods or pintles and joined toa rear or fixed stanchion and a leading or movable stanchion. Closuresor partitions of this kind have an outside cover of fabric or plasticsheeting or other suitable flexible covering material which isfold-able, in the course of extension or contraction of the partition inuse, the structure being suspended from an overhead track or otherwisesupported in any suitable manner so as to form a foldable partition.Foldable structures of this kind are well known and may be permanentlyor temporarily installed in a doorway opening or the like, or, locatedto form a partition within a room in which the partition may be movedfrom place to place, as desired, provided an overhead track or othersuitable support means is available for movement of the structure inuse.

Satisfactory attachment of the fabric or like covers to the stanchionsof the articulated framework of a closure partition of the above kind isa problem, as adhesives, which are currently used for the purpose, givevariable results in adhesion qualities; also, attachment of the coversto the stanchions by means of adhesives is largely responsible forpuckering of the covers when the closure struc ture is in use, whichmakes the structures much less attractive in appearance than otherwisewould be the case,

the puckering apparently being caused by variations in atmospherictemperature expanding or contracting the covering material between thestanchions whereas the covering material adhering to the stanchions isrelatively immovable. Other disadvantages of this relatively permanentattachment of the covers to the articulated framework are that thecovers cannot easily be removed or detached for repair or adjustment ofthe framework mechanism, and, connection of the rear or fixed stanchionto the jamb of the opening in which the closure is to be installed hasto be effected exterior of the closure, that isto say, it is notconvenient to attach the rear or fixed stanchion to the jamb from withinthe covers, which otherwise would be the preferred form of attachment.Moreover, foldable structures of the present kind are practicallypermanently limited to the original covers from which the structure wasfabricated, and, users would prefer to'have readily detachable coversfor easy replacement by fresh covers of new design.

The present invention provides improvements in the attachment of thecovers to closures or partitions of the present kind in that the use ofadhesives'is avoided and the covers are easily attached and detachedfrom the closure structure, which means, on the one hand, that puckeringof the covering material normally due to adhesive attachment to theframework stanchions is avoided, and, on the other hand, that freshcovers of new design may be installed by the user as desired; inaddition, the framework and covers can be packaged as separate itemsfrom each other in a container for assembly on the site, which lessensthe probability of damage to which the covers are ordinarily subject, intransit, when attached to the fi'amework in manufacture as donehitherto; also, the

3,006,409 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 ready detachment of the covers from theframework facilitates the making of repairs or adjustments to theframework mechanism; also the fixed or rear stanchion of the closurestructure can be readily connected to the jamb of the opening in whichthe closure is to be installed, as it is possible to so connect thefixed stanchion by simple thumb-screws from within the covers, ashereinafter more fully described.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided improvementsin foldable closures of the kind indicated, wherein the covers havelongitudinally-disposed beading near their ends or side extremities andthe stanchions have complementary longitudinally-disposed beading meansin co-acting engagement with the beading on the covers, the covers andthe closure structure also having means for ready attachment anddetachment of the covers to said structure at the top and bottom of thecovers, the arrangement being such that the covers are effectivelyretained in position on the stanchions by the co-acting beadings butsaid headings can be parted to allow detachment of the covers from thestanchions.

The longitudinally-disposed beading strips can be fixedly attached tosaid covers near their ends or side extremities, and, the stanchions canembody longitudinallydisposed retaining strips having complementarylongitudinally-disposed heading in co-acting engagement with theheadings on the covers. For this purpose, there can be provided a pairof said retaining strips fitted to the movable stanchion and a similarpair of such strips fitted to the fixed stanchion which is connected tothe jamb of the opening in which the closure is installed, the sideextremities of said covers contacting side faces of the stanchions andthe beadings on said covers being directed outwards in coactingengagement with the headings on the retaining strips. The latterheadings are directed towards the covers so that the beadings on saidcovers can be readily engaged so as to hold the ends or side extremitiesof the covers in position against the stanchions and disengaged fordetachment of the covers. The retaining strips can each consist of anextrusion section having a cross-sectional profile consisting of anarcuate central portion having an inwardly directed beading at one endand an inwardly directed flange at the opposite end terminating in aninturned tongue portion, each said retaining strip being semi-rigid toallow the strips to be parted from the stanchions.

Each stanchion can consist of a channel member, the ends of which areinturned towards each other to form flanges, the retaining strips beingfitted to the stanchions so that the inwardly directed flanges andinturned tongue portions of the retaining strips embrace the inturnedflanges of each said channel member. Suitable spacer means can belocated between the retaining ships and jam the flanges thereof againstthe inturned flanges of the stanchions. The spacer means is convenientlyembodied in an ornamental facing strip which is attached to the movablestanchion the ornamental facing strip being an extrusion section havinga cross sectional profile consisting of a main rectangular body portionhaving a central projection on the inner face and extending into asidewardly directed portion forming a slot with the main rectangularbody portion lengthwise of said ornamental facing strip, the centralprojection and sidewardly directed portion constituting said spacermeans.

Said ornamental facing strip can be held in position by a series ofclamping plates, each said plate having a bent leg at one end which isadapted to be located in the slot formed between the sidewardlyextending portion and the main rectangular body portion of theornamental facing strip, the opposite end of said clamping plate havinga tongue, said tongues of the series of clamping plates protrudingthrough a series of slots arranged at suitable in- 3 tervals throughoutthe length of the inner face of the stanchion channel member. Theornamental facing strip can be in two longitudinal sections with aclosure handle interposed, the closure handle being removably attachedto the channel member of the movable stanchion.

In'the case of the fixed stanchion, said spacer means can consist of aseries of channel-form clamping plates, a side of each of which iselongated and has a tongue, the channel-form portion of said platesbeing located to jam the flanges of said retaining strips against theinturned flanges of the fixed stanchions and the tongues of the clampingplates protruding through a series of slots arranged at suitableintervals throughout the length of the inner face of the fixed stanchionand twisted to lock the spacer means in position.

The means for ready attachment and detachment of the covers to theclosure structure at the top and bottom of the covers can comprise studsfixed to the top and bottom portions of the covers at suitable intervalsacross the width'of the covers and connected to complementary studmembers. Said studs can have inwardly directed retaining heads engagingwith U-form clips pivotally attached to the top of the short pintles ofa closure structure having top and bottom lazy-tongs mechanism, theU-form clips having slots in the opposite outstanding legs to receivesaid retaining heads of the studs.

The covers advantageously are of thermoplastic sheeting material and thetop and bottom portions of the covers are folded over in attaching saidstuds thereto, the folded portions being turned back on themselves andthe studs being nestled between the folded layers and fixed in positionby heat welding of the thermoplastic material,

the heads of the studs being located between the layers of the materialand shanks of the studs extending through the material for engagementwith the U-form clips.

In order, however that the invention may be fully understood, referenceis made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of thisspecification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an example of a closure orpartition of the kind with which the invention is concerned, showninstalled in a doorway opening and extending across only part of thedoorway opening;

FIG. 2 is part-sectional fragmentary front elevation of a preferred formof closure or partition structure, in embodying interconnected upper andlower lazy-tongs mechanism connected to a movable stanchion and fixedstanchion, the front cover being removed to show said mechanism and thestanchions; V 7

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of a cover accordingto the invention and showning a longitudinally-disposed beading stripfixedly attached to the cover near the end or side extremity of thecover;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view taken at lines 4"4 of FIG. 2 andillustrates the arrangement at the movable-stanchion end of the closure;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view taken at lines 55 of FIG. 2, andis similar to FIG. 4 but shows the closure handle connected to themovable stanchion;

'FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional planview taken at lines 6-6 of FIG. 2 andillustrates the arrangement at the fixed-stanchionend of the closure;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional end view takenat lines 77 of FIG. 2 andshows the attachment of the covers to the lazy-tongs mechanism,illustrated with respect to the bottom of the closure;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional end view taken at lines 8--8 of FIG. 2 andshows the attachment of the covers to the channel member of the movablestanchion, illustrated with respect to the top of the closure;

FIG. 9 is a perspective detail view of the fastening clips shown in FIG.8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective detail view .of a clamping plate, aseries ofwhich are used to hold the ornamental facing strip in position as seenin FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a perspective detail view of a channel-form and minor bodyplates 19 and 11.

4 clamping plate, a series of which are used to jam thelongitudinally-disposed retaining strips in position as seen in FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ornamental facing stripseen in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary erspective view of one of thelongitudinally-disposed retaining strips seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a foldableclosure or partition 1 installed in a doorway opening or the like 2, theclosure or partition structure being suspended from an overhead track 3at the top of the doorway opening. The closure or partition structuremay comprise an articulated framework 4 formed by upper and lower hingedor lazy tongs structures 5 and 6 respectively, each comprising a seriesof pairs of hinged plates 7 connected together serially by central hingepins or short pintles 8 and pivotrods or long pintles 9, the shortpintles or central hinge pins 8 pivoting at the intersecting ormid-points of the major A fixed stanchion 12 is adapted to be secured toa door jam-b or the like 13 for hinging the structure thereto, innerpairs of major and minor end plates 14 of the lazy tongs structure beinghingedly attached to said stanchion 12 at both upper and lower parts. Atthe opposite end of the articulated framework, a movable stanchion 15 isconnected to outer pairs 16 of said end plates, the movable stanchion 15having a closure handle 17 or the like for a user to grasp so as to openor close the structure in use.

A foldable cover 18 of any suitable flexible covering material isprovided on both sides of the articulated framework, said covers beingattached to the fixed stanchion 12 and the movable stanchion 15 inaccordance with the invention as hereinafter more fully described. Thefoldable covers 18 also have means for ready attachment and detachmentof the covers to the articulated framework at the top and bottom of thecovers. This attachment can be effected by stud means 19 adapted to bedetachably connected to U-form clips 20 connected to the pivot rods orlong pintles 9 as hereinafter more fully described.

The overhead track 3 conveniently embodies a channel member or the like,the closure structure being suspended therefrom by slide blocks 21located at the top of certain of the central hinge-pins or short pintles8, said slide blocks 21 being held to the ends of said pintles by anysuitable means. The slide blocks 21 preferably are nylon mouldings andare rectangular in elevation, with a central countersunk opening forattachment to the pintles 8 and having horizontally disposed side slotsor recesses extending the length of the slide blocks for engagement withinwardly projecting flanges or webs of the channel member forming theoverhead track 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 13, according to the invention the covers 18are provided with longitudinallydisposed beading strips 22 havingbeading 23 and fixedly attached to the covers near their ends or sideextremities as best seen in FIGS. ,3 to 6, and, the stanchions 12 and.15 have fitted to them longitudinally disposed retaining strips 24having beading 25, the beading 25 of said retaining strips 24gbeingcomplementary with the heading 23 of longitudinally-disposed strips 22for coacting engagement. This arrangement consists of a pair ofsaidretaining strips 24 fitted to the opposite side faces of the movablestanchion 15, a similar pair of such strips being fittedto the oppositeside faces of the fixed stanchion 12 connected to the jamb 13 of theopening in which the closure is to berinstalled. The ends or sideextremities of said covers 18 contact side faces 26a of the stanchions'12 and 15, and the beadings 23 on said covers. 18 are directed outwardsin coacting engagement with the headings 25 on the retaining strips 24,said beadings 25 of the retaining strips 24 being directed towards thecovers 1 8 so that the headings 23 on the'be ading strips 22 can heslipped over the beading 25 on the retaining strips 24 so as to hold theends or side extremities of the covers in position against thestanchions 12 and 15.

Each retaining strip 24 may consist of a synthetic plastic extrusionmember having a cross-sectional profile comprising an arcuate centralportion 26 having the beading 25 at one end and inwardly directedbeading, an inwardly directed flange 27 being provided at the oppositeend which terminates in an inturned tongue portion 28. The syntheticplastic material is of such a nature that said retaining strip 24 issemi-rigid but has a flexibility sufiicient to allow the strip to beforced apart from the stanchions 12 and 15 by the users fingers, whenthe strips are fitted to said stanchions and the headings 23 on thecovers are being slipped behind the heading on said retaining strips 24in attaching the covers 18 to the stanchions 12 and 15, or, when theheadings 23 on the covers are being slipped passed the beadings 25 onsaid retaining strips 24 in detaching the covers from said stanchions.

The stanchions 12 and 15 advantageously are fabricated from metal andmay each consist of a channel member 29 the ends or extremities of whichare inturned towards each other to form flanges 30. Said retainingstrips 24 are fitted to each stanchion channel member 29 so that theinwardly directed flanges 27 and inturned tongue portions 28 thereofembrace the inturned flanges 30 of the stanchion channel member in eachcase, suitable spacer means being located between the retaining strips24 so as to jam the flanges 27 thereof against the inturned flanges 30of the stanchions thereby to hold the retaining strips 24 in position.

In the case of the movable stanchion 15, said spacer means isconveniently embodied in an ornamental facing strip 31 which alsofunctions toimprove the general appearance of the outer face of saidmovable stanchion. The ornamental facing strip 31 advantageouslyconsists of a synthetic plastic extrusion having a cross sectionalprofile comprising a main rectangular body portion 32 having a centralprojection 33 on the inner face and ex tending into a sidewardlydirected portion 34 which forms a slot 35 with the main rectangular bodyportion 32 lengthwise of said ornamental facing strip 31. Said centralprojection 33 and sidewardly directed portion 34 constitutes said spacermeans for the movable stanchion and are adapted to be located betweenthe inwardly directed flanges 27 of the retaining strips 24 so as to jamsaid flanges 27 against the inturned flanges 30 of the stanchion 15 asindicated.

The central projection 33 and sidewardly directe/d portion 34 of thefacing strip 31 are located in the space extending lengthwise of themovable stanchion. In this instance the ornamental facing strip 31 isconveniently held in position by a series of metal or other suitableclamping plates 35, each having a bent leg 37 at one end which isadapted to be located in the slot 35 formed between the sidewardlyextending portion 34 and the main rectangular body portion 32 of theornamental facing strip 31, the opposite end of each said clamping plate36 having a tongue member 38, the series of tongues of plates protrudingthrough a series of slots arranged at suitable intervals throughout thelength of the inner face of the stanchion channel member 29. Said facingstrip 31 is in two parts so that the closure handle 17 can beinterposed.

In the case of the fixed stanchion 12, said spacer means consists of aseries of metal channel-form clamping plates 39 each of which has oneleg elongated which terminates in a tongue member 40, a series of slotsbeing arranged at suitable intervals throughout the length of the innerface of the fixed stanchion channel member 12, and the series of saidtongue members 40 protruding through said slots so as to be twisted andlock the spacer means in position.

The means for ready attachment and detachment of the covers 18 to thearticulated framework 4 at the top and bottom of the covers 18 cancomprise stud means 19 fixed to the top and bottom portions of thecovers at suitable intervals across the width thereof. Said stud means19 can each have an inwardly directed retaining head 41 for engagementwith each U-form clip 20 pivotally attached to the top of the shortpintles 8 of the top and bottom lazy tongs structures 5 and 6, theU-form clips 20 each having a slot 42 in the opposite outstanding legs43 to receive said retaining heads 41 of the studs. Advantageously, thetop portion of the covers 18 are folded over, in attaching said studs 19thereto, the folded portion being turned back on itself and the studs 19being nestled between the layers and suitably fixed inposition such asby heat welding of the thermoplastic material from which the covers maybe fabricated. The bottom portion of the covers 18 has the studs 19fixed in position in the same way. In each instance, it is preferredthat the heads 41a of the studs 19 be located between layers of materialso that the heads 41a are not apparent from the outside, the shanks 44of the studs extending through the cover material and in turn protrudingthrough the slots 42 of the U-form clips 20 for engagement of theretaining heads 41 with said U-form clips as indicated.

The top portion of the covers 18 at both ends are also detachably heldto the movable stanchion 15 and the fixed stanchion 12 by means ofcover-suspending fastening clips 45, which have a U-form leg 46 forengagement with the top of the stanchions, as shown in FIG. 8, saidclips also having upstanding lugs 47 expressed from the clip body forthreading through appropriate slits cut in the covers 13. Thesefastening clips 45 are located behind the retaining strips 24 so thatthey are not visible and do not mar the appearance of the structure.

In use, the articulated framework 4, the covers 18, and the retainingstrips 24, together with the closure handle 17 and other essential partsare advantageously packaged as separate items in a container forassembly on the site. In assembling the structure, the fixed stanchion12 is connected to the jamb 13 of opening in which the closure is to beinstalled suitably by means of thumbscrews 48 having a fiat head, saidthumb screws extending through the inner face of said stanchion 12 andscrewing into said jamb 13, any number of said screws being employed forthe purpose. In this way the rear stanchion 12 is readily connected tothe jamb 13 and may be equally readily detached if so desired by simplepreliminary detachment of the covers 18 from said stanchion 12. Inattaching the fixed stanchion 12 to the jamb 13, the retaining strips'24 are first fitted to said stanchion 12 as indicated above, the spacermeans holding said strips in position whilst the screwing of thestanchion to the jamb also serves to position said strips firmly againstthe jamb. The retaining strips 24 associated with the movable stanchion15 are then fitted thereto and the ornamental facing strip 31 andclosure handle 17 attached to said stanchion 15. Said stanchions 12 and15 are now ready to receive the covers 18, which are attached to theopposite sides of the articulated framework 4, and said covers 18 arefitted thereto by firstly connecting the stud means 19 to the U-formclips 29 as indicated above at the top and bottom of the covers, thenthreading the covers 18 over the lugs 47, and then slipping the heading23 on the covers 18 between the stanchions and the beading '25 of theretaining strips 24. As will be understood from the foregoing, saidcovers 18 may be equally simply detached by slipping the heading 23 onthe covers 18 from between said stanchions and the heading 25 of theretaining strips 24, with all the attendant advantages indicated.

I claim:

1. A foldable closure comprising an articulated lazy tongs frameworkincluding fixed and movable stanchions, semi rigid strip members on bothof said stanchions, said strip mernbers having opposite ends andincluding a bead adjacent one of said ends, flexible covers foldablybetween said stanchions, said flexible covers including a beading stripdetachably engageable with said bead of the strip member with the beadand beading strip adjacent one another, said flexible covers having atop and bottom, and fastener means on said covers adjacent said top andbottom for detachably engaging said covers with the articulated lazytongs framework.

2. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said stanchioncomprises a channel member including flanges having ends which areturned towards one another and define a space therebetween, each of saidstrip members including an arcuate central portion and a U shaped flangeportion at the other of said ends, said flange portion being engageablewith the end of the flange of the stanchion, and spacer means in saidspace jambing the flanges of the strip members against the flanges ofthe stanchions.

3. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said spacer means inthe movable stanchion is constituted by at least one ornamental facingstrip attached to the movable stanchion, said ornamental facing stripincluding a rectangular body, and a projection on said body, saidprojection being provided with a slot adjacent the rectangular body,said projection being adapted for engagement in said space for jambingthe flanges of the strip members against the flanges of the stanchions.

4. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein spacer means in thefixed stanchion is constituted by a plurality of spaced clamping plateshaving a channel cross section, said clamping plates being attached tothe fixed stanchion, said channel including two flanges one of which iselongated and terminates in a tongue, said channel being at least inpart in said space whereby the flanges of the strip members are j-ambedagainst the flanges of the stanchion, said fixed stanchion beingprovided with a plurality of spaced slots, said tongues protrudingthrough said slots whereby the spacer means is locked with respect tothe fixed stanchion.

5. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 3 further comprising aplurality of spaced clamping plates for engagement with the movablestanchion, each I of said clamping plates including a flange engageablein said slot, said movable stanchion having a plurality of spacedperforations, each said clamping plate including a tongue which isadapted to protrude through said perforation whereby said clamping plateis locked with respect to the movable stanchion.

6. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 5 wherein said spacer means isconstituted by two ornamental facing strips in longitudinal alignmentand defining a space therebetween, and a closure handle in said spaceremovably on the movable stanchion.

7. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 5 wherein said spacer means inthe fixed stanchion is constituted by a plurality of spaced clampingplates having a channel cross section, said clamping plates beingattached to the fixed stanchion, said channel including two flanges oneof which is elongated and terminates in a tongue, said channel being atleast in part in said space whereby the flanges of the strip members arejambed against the flanges of the stanchions, said fixed stanchion beingprovided with a plurality of spaced slots, said tongues protrudingthrough said slots whereby the spacer means is locked with respect tothe fixed stanchion.

8. A foldable closure as claimed in claim 7 wherein said spacer means isconstituted by two ornamental facing strips in longitudinal alignmentand defining a space therebetween, and a closure handle in said spaceremovably on the movable stanchion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,104,261 Landau 'Jan. 4, 1938 2,340,173 Case Ian. 25, 1944 2,732,894Harris Jan. 31, 1956

